Casement-window latch



W. S. OGLESBY CASEMENT WINDOW LATCH Filed. May 28, 1927 March. 11,1930.

INVENTOR W44 75/? S 061.

ATTORNEY Y) i x WITNESSES Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER S. OGLESBY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ANNA A. OGLESBY ADMINISTRATRIX OF SAID WALTER S. OG-LESBY, DECEASED CASEMENT-WINDOW LATCH Application filed May 28, 1927. Serial No. 194,983.

The present invention is concerned with the provision of a casement window so arranged that it may be securely latched in slightly opened position for purposes of ventilation.

A primary object of the invention is to provide means for latching a casement window with the sash slightly aj ar, in such a manner that the danger of an intruder forcing or manipulating the latch to gain access is minimized.

Previous attempts to provide this type of latch in connection with a casement window have been subject to the common defect of ready accessibility from the outside of the Window, so that if the sash is slightly ajar, an intruder may readily insert a knife between the partially opened sash and its frame to release the latch.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a latch which will effectively hold a window sash slightly open for ventilating purposes without any danger of rattling and wind chatter, and to provide a latch of eX- tremely simple, practical construction which will be rugged, durable and efficient in use, neat and attractive in appearance, well suited to the requirements of economical manufacture, and adapted for universal application to the conventional types of French windows and similar doors now in use.

With the above noted and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims. The invention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional plan View through a casement window showing the sash closed.

Fig. 2 is an inside elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating the sash ajar and latched by my improved mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the keeper plate.

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation of a modified form of keeper plate.

In the drawings I have shown fragmentarily a window in which the easement frame 10 and casement sash 11 are of generally conventional construction, being formed of metallic bars of general Z-shape nesting one within the other when the window is closed. The outer laterally projecting flange 12 of the Z-bar of the sash is adapted to seat against a heel 13 on the stationary Z-bar of the frame. A similar abutment is provided by an inwardly projecting flange 14 on the Z-bar 10 against which the heel 15 of the Z- bar 11 comes to rest.

The intermediate portions of the Z-bars 10 and 11 together with the heels and flanges of the bars define oppositely facing longitudinally extending channels or grooves 10, and 11 Arranged within the groove 10 of the casement frame bar 10 is a keeper plate 16 preferably of metal and formed with a series of vertical keeper grooves 17 into any one of which the operating end 18 of a latch member 19 is adapted to be inserted. This latch member is pivoted as at 20 to the inner face of the frame bar 11 of the sash, and includes a handle portion 21 for rotating the free end of the latch to clear the flange 14:.

In order that there may be a minimum amount of space into which a knife or other jimmying tool might be inserted, a counter guard plate 22 is preferably arranged in the channel 11 opposite the keeper plate 16. This counterguard is preferably provided with upper and lower flanges 22 22 straddling the keeper plate and materially longitudinally restricting the space into which a knife might be effectively inserted by an intruder.

To use the device, the handle 21 is rotated in either direction from the aosition of Fl 1, until the free end 18 of the latch clears the flange 14, at which time the casement sash may be moved outwardly and the handle 21 rotated to engage the latch 18 in either of the slots 17. It will be noted from Fig. 3, that it is practically impossible to insert a knife or other instrument between the guard plate and keeper to effect disengagement of the latch from its groove. Preferably the keeper plate is slightly dished or concaved on its grooved face in accordance with the are upon which the sash swings about its hinges.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a modified form of the invention in which the two grooves 17 of the keeper plate are replaced by a single inclined groove 25. lVith this form of the invention, the sash may be adjusted inwardly or outwardly to any desired extent by the camming action of the latch 18 on the walls of the groove 25.

It will be apparent from a consideration of the construction involved that the keeper and counter guard may be cast integral with the sash and casement frame or may be constructed in various other ways than that illustrated.

In fact, numerous changes and alterations might be made in the general form and arrangement of the parts described without departing from the invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself to the details set forth, but shall consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a casement frame, asash hingedly mounted therein and a pivoted latch on the inner face of the sash adapted to engage the frame and prevent swinging of the sash to open position, of a grooved keeper on the inner face of the frame adapted to receive the latch for retaining the sash in slightly opened position.

2. The combination with a easement frame, a sash hingedly mounted therein and a pivoted latch on the inner face of the sash adapted to engage the frame and prevent swinging of the sash to open position, of a grooved keeper on the inner face of the frame adapted to receive the latch for retaining the sash in slightly opened position, the keeper being so grooved that the sash may be optionally latched in any of a plurality of slightly open positions.

3. The combination with a casement frame, a sash hingedly mounted therein and a pivoted latch on the inner face of the sash adapted to engage the easement frame and prevent swinging of the sash to open position, of a grooved keeper on the inner face of the frame adapted to receive the latch for retaining the sash in slightly opened position, the keeper being so grooved that the sash may be optionally latched in any of a plurality of slightly open positions, and a counterguard member carried by the free edge of the sash coacting with the keeper to prevent the insertion of a jimmying tool under the latch when the sash 1S a ar.

4-. The combination with a metal casement frame and hinged metal sash therein, both formed of Z-bars presenting opposed grooved faces, of a grooved keeper member disposed in the groove of the easement frame, and a counter guard member disposed adjacent thereto in the groove of the free edge of the sash frame.

5. The combination with a metal casement frame and hinged metal sash therein, both formed of Z-bars presenting opposed grooved faces, of a grooved keeper member disposed in the groove of the easement frame, and a counterguard member disposed adjacent thereto in the groove of the free edge of the sash frame, and a latch member pivoted to the inner face of the sash frame including an end adapted to enter the keeper groove when the sash is ajar.

6. The combination with a casement frame, a sash hingedly mounted therein and a pivoted latch on the inner face of the sash adapted to engage the easement frame and prevent swinging of the sash to open position, of a grooved keeper on the inner face of the frame adapted to receive the latch for retaining the sash in slightly opened position, the keeper being so grooved that the sash may be optionally latched in any of a plurality of slightly open positions, the counterguard including upper and lower flanges straddling the keeper plate.

WALTER S. OGLESBY. 

